The waiting will be over for R.A. Dickey Monday when National League manager Tony La Russa announces the identity of his starting pitcher for Tuesday night's All-Star Game. "I want to start the game," said Dickey, who is 12-1 with a 2.40 ERA. "Of course I do."

Dickey said he doesn't know what to expect but thinks he will appear in the game at some point. La Russa has expressed some reticence...

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The waiting will be over for R.A. Dickey Monday when National League manager Tony La Russa announces the identity of his starting pitcher for Tuesday night's All-Star Game. "I want to start the game," said Dickey, who is 12-1 with a 2.40 ERA. "Of course I do."

Dickey said he doesn't know what to expect but thinks he will appear in the game at some point. La Russa has expressed some reticence about starting Dickey because his knuckleball could baffle starting catcher Buster Posey. Dickey said he was going to bring Josh Thole's special knuckleball-catching mitt to Kansas City.

Mets manager Terry Collins, who is a coach on La Russa's staff, said he spoke to the former Cardinals manager during the past few days, but not about Dickey.

"If he asks me if I think R.A. should start, I certainly will tell him he'd be my pick," Collins said. "I know Tony's had a lot of time to prepare for this and I know his thoughts are what's going to be in the best interests of the team of trying to win that game, because it means something. I just can't wait to see R.A. get on the mound there. Whether it's at the start of it or the fifth inning."

The winning league in the All-Star Game gets home-field advantage in the World Series.

Collins said Johan Santana, who had his ankle stepped on by the Cubs' Reed Johnson on Friday, will start the third or fourth game after the All-Star break as a precaution. Dillon Gee will start the second-half opener Friday in Atlanta, followed by Dickey.

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Jordany Valdespin made his first big-league start in centerfield and handled all five chances cleanly.

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